From time to time, we find a fighter that seems like they’d be an interesting guy to talk to. Sure enough, Matt “Suave” Horwich gave us some of his time. Also known as “The Fighting Hippy,” Seattle native Matt Horwich is as much of a veteran of Mixed Martial Arts as you can be, amassing a 24-14-1 record. Check out what Matt had to say to us.
Note: The interview with Matt was conducted via e-mail. Please excuse any incomplete answers. These guys are busy people!
FightPastor.com: From what I’ve read about you, it sounds like you had a pretty “colorful” life before becoming a mixed martial artist. Tell us a big about how you got into martial arts, and what happened between then and becoming a profession MMA practitioner.
Matt Horwich: Well, I traveled around a for couple years and was a street kid. I met alot of awesome people and am really thankful for the experience in life. I’ve wanted to be a martial artist and musician and artist in general since i was a kid. You can never count a old street kid out by, Jesus’ grace! <laughs> It’s a beautiful universe.
FP.com: You studied Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu with Royce Gracie, an elder statesman of the UFC and a huge name in MMA. What was it like training with Royce?
Matt: Really inspirational! Royce and Rorion got me started in MMA. I wasn’t there long but that’s where I got started.
FP.com: You fought for a while before joining the International Fight League (IFC) and becoming their first Middleweight champion. What was the pressure like, being the first ever champion in such a large organization?
Matt: Another day in the great adventure by Jesus’ grace.
FP.com: In your first title defense, you lost the belt to Ryan McGivern, someone you’d lost to before, both times by decision. What makes McGivern such a tough fight for you? What would be the game plan if you were to fight him again?
Matt: To train and feel as good as I am for this fight with watson and keep evolving in God’s infinitely accelerating current of creativity!
FP.com: After the IFL, you had a short run in the UFC, but lost by decision against Dan Miller and Ricardo Almeida. Right now, you’re coming off a win over Jason Lambert in AMMA. Where do you see yourself ending up next?
Matt: Living life to the fullest by Jesus’ grace!
FP.com: You’ve got an interesting nickname … “The Fighting Hippy.” Where did that come from?
Matt: It’s a lot where I come from, a street kid in Seattle, hanging out with the natives and gutter punks and hippies.
FP.com: Brandon introduced us to a book called “The Barbarian Way,” which suggests that Christians shouldn’t be so civilized and complacent … that we need to go out there and be barbarians for Christ, like John the Baptist. Would you consider yourself a Barbarian for Christ?
Matt: Absolutely! I’ll have to check out that book. I love John Eldredge, Bruce Wilkonson. Max Lucado’s new book Fearless is amazing! Thank God for awesome books!
FP.com: We get a lot of comments from Christians that don’t understand what we’re doing, why we’re supporting people who fight. Why do you still fight as a Christian? What do you say to people who question you about it?
Matt: God is a warrior! (Exodus 15:3) We are made in the image of the greatest warrior, even though we live in a fallen world. There’s times to turn the other cheek and times to wield the blade or fists and subs, etc. I look up to Michael a lot, the archangel and fiercest warrior before the Lord God of hosts. Not in a idol way, more like in a big brother in our heavenly family way, by Jesus’ grace.
FP.com: Thanks for taking time to talk to us. Keep Fighting, Matt!
Matt: You’re welcome! I’ll give it my best shot, by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit’s grace! God bless and may the Lord God of hosts face shine upon all of us and energize us and flood our hearts with light in Jesus’ mighty name and the power of the sword of the Spirit!
Interview by Rob “SuperRob” Stevens
